Modified addition agent for lubricants



, halogenated, sulfurized phosphatides.

Patented Jan. 18, 1944 MODIFIED ADDITION AGENT LUBRICANTS Fort" Sam B. Becker, Chicago, 111., assighor to Standard Oil Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Indiana No Drawing.

Application November 28, 1940, Serial No. 367,595

Claims. (01. 252-46) The present invention relates to lubricating oils containing addition agents for use in automotive engines and to methods for modifying certain addition agents in order to improve their effect on the properties of the lubricating oil.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the properties of lubricants by modifying the addition agents therefor either before addition to the lubricant or in situ.

A .further object of the invention is to treat an addition agent in such a way that the lubricant to which'the agent is addedexhibits im-. proved properties over and above those imparted by'the untreated addition agent.

Another object of the invention is to prepare a new composition of matter which may be used as an addition agent for lubricants.

More particularly, the present invention relates to such addition agents as phosphatides and commercial mixtures of the same. The former include, for example, lecithin and cephalin,

while the latter usually comprise a mixture of v such as lecithin and cephalin, but also the commercial mixtures of lecithin, cephalin, oil, etc. are intended. 1 t

It is known that the addition of phosphatides to oils improves the quality thereof by preventing ring sticking and by acting as detergents and antioxidants. It is also known that sulfurized phosphatides impart extreme pressure properties to'a lubricatingoil. In addition, it is known that halogenated phosphatides impart an increased oiliness'to a lubricating oil by acting as in intermolecular lubricant. It has now been found that the above benefits may be derived from' a single addition agent consisting of This addition agent improves the lubricating properties of lubricating oil in each of the above-mentioned aspects without losing the full effects obtained by any one of the three above-mentioned agents.

The sulfurized, halogenated phosphatides may be prepared either by first sulfurizing a phosphatidic material and then ha-logenating or by first halogenating and then sulfurizing a phosphatidic material. Also, this addition agent may be prepared by treating a phosphatidic material with one or more substances containing sulfur for a. period of from 1 to 3 hours.

and'a halogen so that both reactions take place at the same time.

Regardless of the method of treating the phosphatides it is sometimes desirable to dilute the phosphatidic material with mineral 'oil in order to facilitate'handling of the phosphatide during sulfurization and/or halogenation or when the steps are combined. Preferably one part of the phosphatidic material is diluted with one part or more of mineral oil.

' When it is desired to sulfurize the phosphatidic material prior to halogenation, elemental sulfur or other sulfurizing agent is added to the phosphatidic material in ,the presence or absence of an oil or other inert diluent and with or without a sulfur carrier such as sodium polysulfide. This mixture will react at room temperatures or it may be accelerated by heating upto 300 F. After the reaction has taken place excess free sulfur may be separated from the sulfurized material by solvent extraction and filtration. The resulting sulfurized phosphatide may then-be halogenated in any well-known manner by treatment with a halogenating agent such as a hydrogen halide or preferably'elemental halogen. Various methods for halogenating phosphatidic material are shown, such as those described in Chemie und Technolog'ie de Fette und Fett Produkte, Hefter- Schonfeld, second edition, vol. I, pages 508-509, and in Proc. Imp. Acad., Tokyo, vol. 8, 1932, page'428. If desired an halogen carrier, such as finely divided iron particles may be used. The resulting product when added to a lubricating oil in quantities ranging from 0.001% to 10% greatly improved the lubricating oil by imparting thereto not only detergent and antioxidant properties, but also extreme pressure properties and increased oiliness. I

As stated hereinbefore, the phosphatidic material may be halogenated prior to sulfurization. If this is the case the phosphatidic material may be halogenated by any of the well-known methods, as stated above, and the resulting product may then be sulfurized by any of the previously described methods. It is to be noted, however, that any method of halogenation or sulfurization may be employed and the present invention is not limited to any particular method.

If desired the modified addition agent according to the present invention may be prepared directly by treatment with a sulfurizing and halogenating compound. According to this method the phosphatidic material is preferably diluted with an inert solvent, although this is not essential, and then treated with the compound or compounds at low or moderately raised temperatures. The reaction will proceed at atmospheric pressure or at slightly higher pressures. The desired temperature range is from about 32 F. to about 212 F. When an inert solvent or diluent is used it is preferable to use an aliquot portion of the lubricating oil which is to be improved by the addition agent.

Although the. foregoing description has referred primarily to lubricating oils, other lubricedural steps, it is not intended that the present invention should be limited thereby since various modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. .The scope of the present invention is, therefore, to be limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A lubricant comprising a lubricating oil and sulfurizecl halogenated phosphatidic material otherwise free of added phosphorus.

2. A lubricant comprising a lubricating oil containing from 0.001% to 10% sulfurized,ha10- genated phosphatidic materia otherwise free of added phosphorus.

3. A lubricant as claimed in claim 2 wherein the phosphatidic material comprises a mixture of lecithin and cephalin.

4. A lubricant as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ,phosphatidic material comprises lecithin.

5. A lubricant as claimed in claim 2 wherein the phosphatidic material comprises cephalin.

SAM B. BECKER. 

